Malcolm Rose died peacefully at the Lodge at Aspen Village, a memory care facility in Dallas, Ga., on Oct. 22, 2023. The cause was complications of dementia. He was 86.
The son of Albert Rose and Gertrude (Schuster) Rose, Malcolm was born on Sept. 13, 1937 in Truro, where he grew up. According to his daughter Susan, events in Truro during World War II remained vivid memories all his life. His brother Gilbert had gone off to serve in the military; at home with his parents, Malcolm saw a plane crash over a hill near his house, the pilot parachuting out, injured but safe. There were often sightings of German submarines, which caused great anxiety, with reports that German spies had come ashore.
Malcolm was an active boy who loved sports and hoped to play on high school teams when he attended Provincetown High School. But there was no bus to take students home to Truro after the sports practices. He was disappointed, but his positive attitude was reflected in the hobby he listed in his Class of 1955 yearbook: “Learning things that I never knew before.”
“Malcolm was quick-witted but quiet,” said Susan, attributes also seen in the words under his yearbook photo: “Malcolm is the quiet one of the class, but for the school, he’s mighty fast.”
After high school, Malcolm followed in his father’s footsteps, working as a carpenter. After his father retired, Gilbert ran the family building business, and when Gilbert retired, Malcolm took over, working as an independent contractor, Malcolm Rose Building. He took on projects large and small, from whole houses to outdoor showers. He also worked as a handyman for Topside Cottages.
Malcolm was a member of the Christian Union Church, where he served as treasurer and through which he met Diane Brown, whom he married in 1964. They had three children.
As director of the church’s Sunday school, Malcolm hosted annual Halloween parties, when the children would bring their UNICEF boxes filled with change, and he would have tubs of water for apple bobbing. He also served as a Boy Scout leader with Jack Kelly and was a member of the Lions Club of Provincetown, which presented him with a lifetime achievement award.
Although he could not skate, Malcolm agreed to serve as an assistant coach for his son’s Provincetown-Truro youth hockey team.
Malcolm’s other sports love was softball, and he played on casual Sunday afternoon teams in the “old-terms league.” He was a pitcher.
“He was a fun father, not a disciplinarian,” said Susan. “We used to have rubber band fights, which he always won. And I remember the box car he built with Mark, with a picture of Snoopy and the Red Baron on it, for the Boy Scout box car derby.” Malcolm rarely raised his voice.
“We were very lucky,” Susan added.
Malcolm is survived by daughters Susan Garrett of Powder Spring, Ga. and Kim Rose of Truro; son Mark Rose of Truro; and three grandchildren, Amber Rose of Truro, Noah Garrett, and Selah Garrett, both of Powder Springs.
He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Diane Brown Rose,
There will be a celebration of Malcolm’s life at 4 p.m. on June 29 at the Christian Union Church in North Truro. A reception will follow at the church.
